No Higher Calling

Latest Episodes:

Modern Feminisms Attack on Biblical Womanhood with Denise Palmer Mar 09, 2023

Show notes

Feminism has invaded everything. Education, media, culture, and even the church. If we are going to biblical women, women of the Bible, we need to know what God says about our role and purpose.

My mentor, Denise Palmer, joins me to share her past experiences with feminist thinking and how God used His Word to change her heart and mind. We dig into the foundational tenets of the feminist movement, some of which we can appreciate. I am thankful that women have the right to vote, to be educated, etc. But as first wave feminism moved into the second and third wave, we see worldly ideology taking control. Now, we see a movement that is seeking to take a wrecking ball to the order God has designed, and "rebuild" it in a way that is in accordance with man's [humankind's] thinking.

As women who seek to know truth and live it out in our lives, what can we do to uphold God's order in spite of the opposing culture? We seek to answer this from the truth we find in the Bible.

Scripture Referenced:

Genesis 3:16

Jeremiah 17:9-10

II Corinthians 10:5

Resources:

Eve in Exile by Rebekah Merkle

Mama Bear Apologetics by Hillary Morgan Ferrer

Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube , and www.nohighercalling.org

Hosting a Mom’s Night Out Mar 06, 2023

Show notes

During our time in the States, I had the privilege of managing a Facebook mom group for ladies in my community. One of the highlights of being an admin of that group was our Mom's Night Out events. Every other month, I would get with the other group admins, and we would host a fun evening for our mom friends. Each one was a bit different as they spanned over the past 5 years, but all were such a wonderful evening of refreshment and encouragement.

Don't let it be something that feels so daunting that you push it off! "The purpose of hosting is not to impress, it is to bless." There are many ways to make this a simple, yet fun venture. Not only will the evening refresh you in your motherhood, but it is also a great opportunity to share the gospel with other mom's in your circle.

In this episode, I share some tips on how to plan and host a mom's night out.

-Thinking through location

-Sending invitations

-Planning food, activities, etc

-Keeping the fellowship focused on Christ

Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube , and www.nohighercalling.org

Bonus: Family Update & Answered Prayer Mar 04, 2023

Show notes

Our family has had quite the major life transition. On Wednesday, January 25th, our family of 6 began our journey from cold east Tennessee to beautiful, sunny Sydney, Australia. So many of you have prayed for us along the way, and I wanted to share some of the miraculous ways that God answered very specific requests.

To everyone who has prayed for us, given financially, sent us encouraging messages, etc- THANK YOU! We could not be more grateful!

Subscribe to the No Higher Calling YouTube channel and see a video glimpse into our journey: https://youtu.be/dqa7wH4k-xQ

Follow our ministry at www.brazzellstoaustralia.com

Friendship: Finding Your Tribe Mar 02, 2023

Show notes

The more I speak with other women, the more I realize that we all have a desire for personal connection. God created us for community, for friendships that strengthen and encourage us. We want to cultivate relationships, but we often don't know where to begin. How does one "find their tribe"?

In this episode, I share my personal struggle with this and how God used my search for mom friends to grow me. Brettnay from a decade ago wouldn't recognize the Brettnay today. God asked me to step out of my comfort zone, and He used that to radically change my life. The reward has been some of the most precious friendships.

Scriptures Referenced:

Psalm 37:4; 90:9

Proverbs 18:24; 27:17

Luke 22:32-34

Hebrews 10:24-25

Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube , and www.nohighercalling.org

Psalm 23~ I Shall Not Want Feb 27, 2023

Show notes

Because the Lord is our Shepherd, we can say with complete confidence, "I shall not want."

Is Christ enough in your life? In Him, there is no lack or deficiency. He is sufficient, and He fills every void in our heart. The more we come to know the heart of our Shepherd, the more we find all we need in the person of Jesus Christ.

We continue our study of Psalm 23 diving into the phrase "I shall not want." Four little words, yet packed with rich truth!

Scriptures Referenced:

Psalm 23; 68:19; 121:4

Resources:

A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W Phillip Keller: https://amzn.to/3CJZGid

The Heart of the Shepherd by Stephen Chappell: https://amzn.to/3Sh6B8R

If you do not know Christ as your Shepherd, email me at nohighercallingpodcast@gmail.com. I'd love nothing more than to share how Jesus Christ can be your Savior.

Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube , and www.nohighercalling.org

Marriage Purity Feb 23, 2023

Show notes

"Don't trade any secret sin for the joy of walking in unbroken intimacy with Jesus Christ."

Simeon joins me in this episode to tackle a delicate topic- marriage purity. Purity is often equated with virginity; therefore, we think we can tic the box when we make it to our wedding day. Purity is much more than saving sex for marriage. It is a call to holiness and godliness in each area of our being- body, soul and spirit. We discuss several areas where Christian couples must stand guard against Satan's attacks and "purpose in their hearts" that we will not be defiled by the filth of this world.

Pray fervently and stand strong to protect the purity of your relationship with Christ and your spouse!

Scriptures Referenced:

Psalm 51

Proverbs 4:23-27

Jeremiah 17:9; 33:3

Daniel 1:8

Matthew 5:27-28

Romans 13:13-14

I Corinthians 6:20; 10:12-13

Resources:

Point Man by Steve Farrar: https://amzn.to/3Z8BNt8

Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube , and www.nohighercalling.org

Love Languages Feb 16, 2023

Show notes

Simeon joins me in this episode to discuss love languages. These are taken from the book The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman. Chapman divides personalities into 5 main categories of how we express and receive love: words of affirmation, physical touch, quality time, acts of service, and giving/receiving gifts.

We share what our love languages are and how knowing that has helped us better communicate our love and appreciation to each other.

“Our most basic emotional need is not to fall in love but to be genuinely loved by another, to know a love that grows out of reason and choice, not instinct. I need to be loved by someone who chooses to love me, who sees in me something worth loving. That kind of love requires effort and discipline. It is the choice to expend energy in an effort to benefit the other person, knowing that if his or her life is enriched by your effort, you too will find a sense of satisfaction—the satisfaction of having genuinely”
― Gary Chapman

Resources:

Love Language Quiz

The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman

Instagram: Fierce Marriage

Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube , and www.nohighercalling.org

Date Night Ideas Feb 13, 2023

Show notes

Simeon joins me in this episode to share some of our current favorite date night ideas. I also share ideas from others that we thought sounded fun. If you are in a rut with date nights or if you want to add a fresh spark to your relationship, these ideas might help you get off to a good start.

We also share a few tips for being intentional in having a heart connection with your spouse.

Resources:

The Flirtation Experiment by Lisa Jacobson & Phylicia Masonheimer

Parks Board Game

Learn to Play Parks YouTube Video

Lost Cities Card Game

The Crew Card Game

Finders Seekers Mystery Box

Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube , and www.nohighercalling.org

Teaching Children to Pray with Heidi James Feb 09, 2023

Show notes

Heidi James from the Children's Bible Society joins me to discuss how to teach children to pray. God has given Heidi a unique ministry. He is greatly using her as she seeks to reach children with the gospel and help parents and ministry workers know how to best reach the hearts of children.

She shares practical things she's learned through leading children's prayer meetings. These truths and ideas will be so helpful as we seek to encourage the children we influence to speak to God through prayer!

Prayer questions are also addressed, such as-

-At what age should we begin teaching children to pray?

-Why do we bow our heads, fold our hands, close our eyes, etc?

-What should they pray for?

-Should we invite children to pray for mature topics? (war, death, illness)

-What is required of us if we desire to teach children to pray?

Resources:

Children's Bible Society: https://childrensbiblesociety.com/

Children's Bible Society Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/childrensbiblesociety/

Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube , and www.nohighercalling.org

Raising Teenagers for Christ with Ruth Sturgill Feb 02, 2023

Show notes

"Raising teenagers has the protential to be one of the best seasons of our lives... If we go into it with a valiant "we are going to trust God" attitude, it's going to be good. It's not easy but it's good."

Ruth Sturgill, pastor's wife and mother of 2 teenage boys, shares her heart on the teenage years. It is often difficult to see our babies grow up and become less dependent on us, to see them spread their wings and begin to fly. Ruth gives advice on how to navigate these years with grace and how to find true joy in a season that so many dread.

She addresses:

-Not parenting in fear

-Transitioning your children to adulthood independence

-Being your child's greatest advocate

-Teaching your children to live in the awareness of the presence of the Lord

-Navigating puberty, hormones, relationship struggles, and more

Scripture Referenced:

Deuteronomy 32:11-13

Resources:

The Sturgill Family CD: www.https://sturgillfamily.com/

Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube , and www.nohighercalling.org